Doctor insights on:
How Safe Is Transvaginal Ultrasound During Pregnancy

1

Pretty Safe:
Assuming that the membranes are intact (water not broken), there should be no significant risks. In the case of ruptured membranes the same precautions should be used as for an internal exam. Labial prep and sterile probe cover.
...Read more

An ultraound, also known as a sonogram, is a painless and relatively inexpensive imaging test that utilizes sound waves instead of ionizing radiation. There are no side effects. Ultrasound can give us two-dimensional, and in some applications three-dimensional, images of structures and organs in virtually any part of the body. In addition to diagnostic uses, such as evaluating abnormalities in the abdomen, pelvis, and breast, ultrasounds are commonly used to guide needle and catheter placement in a variety of surgical and minimally invasive procedures.
...Read more

2

Perhaps:
Kyl: at that early stage we may see a decidual (pregnancy) reaction in the uterus and a small gestational sac. We would not be able to see the actual fetal pole or heartbeat that early. A scan at 7-8 weeks would be best to document a good, viable pregnancy with a heartbeat.
...Read more

3

Yes:
If your cycles are irregular, you may be slightly off on dates. A pregnancy should be seen by 5 weeks and a beta of 1000, so I would suggest a followup transvaginal ultrasound a week after the prior one. If no pregnancy is seen at that point, then some concern would arise regarding the viability of your pregnancy. Please follow closely with your OB until the issue is cleared up.Dr. S.
...Read more

4

Ultrasound:
The ultrasound can only show If something big enough for it to image a fresh pregnancy is probably too small so pregnancy test in the near future if you had a missed period would be the best test two give you an answer then you can follow up with your ultrasound
...Read more

6

No Different:
Transvaginal Ultrasound done during menses is more accurate and does not hurt at all. It is a little bit messy but most of us are used to it. Most patients are given the choice to insert the probe themselves. So, just relax
...Read more

7

Same as in any...:
The risk of catching something is the same as in any other medical office visit... meaning there could be another patient in the waiting room with cold or flu symptoms, and thus cough or sneeze viruses into the air that others in the same waiting room end up breathing in. Thus, wear a mask if worried. Also, avoid catching germs in restrooms. Ultrasound scans themselves don't transmit diseases.
...Read more

8

Questionable/unclear:
The discomfort and inconvenience to you as well as the possibility of "confusing artifacts" for the sonographer, created by the presence of blood and menstrual material in your cervix and endometrium would seem to outweigh any potential benefit of "having a transvaginal ultrasound during heavy period". Asking your doctor directly for a rationale should help answer your concern.
...Read more

9

Usually cyclic cyst:
The most common reason for fullness in the right adnexae for someone your age would be a cyclic cyst that is part of your menstrual cycle. These cyst usually rupture when the ovary releases an egg in mid cycle. Other things to consider are infection, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, and tumor. If you are otherwise free of symptoms if might well disappear by the time you get the sono.
...Read more

10

Thin u/s inserted:
Routine female pelvic ultrasound has two portions to the exam. The exam starts with a full bladder and scanning with a fan shaped ultrasound (u/s) probe over the lower abdomen and pubic area. Then the pt is asked to empty her bladder and then a thin long u/s probe is inserted into the vagina for additional pictures. This portion is important and significantly improves parts of the evaluation.
...Read more

11

Left is right:
All radiology cross sectional exams are viewed if you are looking at someone laying down from the foot of the bed. So the left side of the screen is the right side of the patients body (same as if you were looking at someone facing you). The ultrasonographer should label the sides with a right or left annotation.
...Read more

14

Need more info:
If you have never had sex, there would be no need for PAP. If you have had sex then your experience at a future opportunity is likely to be similar to your earlier experience. The "tightness" is more likely an emotional response as fibroids are not usually associated with "tightness"
...Read more

17

August 9, 2012:
Your estimated date of confinement (edc or due date) would be may 2, 2013 and you conceived approximately on the above date, give or take a few days. Congratulations and have a healthy & safe pregnancy.
...Read more

18

Of What?:
Of a tight, intact hymen? Yes it can. The vagina? If the examiner suddenly thought she or he was churning butter, or had a severe seizure during the exam then it might happen but I never saw such an occurrence.
...Read more

19

Different probe:
Pelvic ultrasound can be performed over the lower abdomen. However, there is also a vaginal "probe" which can be inserted into the outer vagina (about an inch). It is smaller than the regular ultrasound transducer/scanner. This allows for much better imaging of the female pelvis (uterus/ovaries). It is very commonly done; it should not be painful.
...Read more

21

Yes.:
In a virgin, the entrance of the probe is slightly painful. After entry, it does not hurt. Most of the pain comes out of the spasm of the muscles because of fear. The more you relax the less painful it is to do the ultrasound in a virgin.
...Read more

22

Yes:
Regular ultrasound has a bigger "field of view" so may better see ovaries that are positioned higher or things that are near, but outside of uterus and ovaries. Transvag us usually obtains a more detailed view of uterus and ovaries, which is why both are usually performed together.
...Read more

23

Not necessarily:
Some free fluid can be normal. It can also be from a ruptured ovarian cyst. Also ascites is free fluid from various diseases. But a little fluid usually not bad. Your doctor will help determine the cause.
...Read more

26

Venous:
It usually means that the veins in the pelvis are full or "backed up." this can result in pain, a condition called pelvic congestion syndrome which is treated in interventional radiology.
...Read more

29

Identify Gender:
A transvaginal ultrasound can certainly detect the gender of a baby but will not identify it any faster than a transabdominal ultrasound. During early development the male and female genitalia look almost identical. After 15 weeks it is easier to determine gender.
...Read more

30

Probably not:
22y female asks if endometriosis, EM, is detectable by "transvaginal ultrasound". Since EM is a theoretical clinical disease in search of a diagnostic benchmark, the answer is "probably no". Let's see what the experts have to say. Pathologists I have spoken to have not confirmed that tissue diagnosis is definitive. Be wary of invasive procedures which incite adhesions & "EM" & IBS-like symptoms.
...Read more

When your due date arrives, you will be more than ready to have your baby! Most women deliver the baby somewhere between 37 and 42 weeks. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, only 5% of babies arrive on the exact due date. Approximately 7% of babies are not delivered by 42 weeks, and when that happens, it is referred to as a "post-term pregnancy."
...Read more

An ultrasound is an imaging study in which a probe emits and receives sound waves which rebound off of internal organs in order to visualize them. For a transvaginal ultrasound a specially designed probe is lubricated and placed into the vagina in order to better visualize pelvic organs/ structures.
...Read more